ALBANY -— A woman whose fingertip was nearly bitten off in a random attack inside a North Pearl Street bar two weeks ago said city police have not conducted an investigation or followed up with her about the incident.

Ashley Shilling, 27, said a man who was a stranger approached her inside the Pearl Street Pub around 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 20, and began biting the tip of her left ring finger as she talked with two acquaintances on the bar's dance floor. Shilling said the man, who was in his late 20s or early 30s, had tried to dance with her earlier in the evening.

"I didn't say anything to him, I just simply danced away from him and around him to get away," Shilling said. "I just wanted to go out and dance with my girlfriend and have a good time."

Bouncers quickly pulled the man off Shilling, but she said by then he had broken her finger and nearly severed the tip. The man fled the area before police arrived. A bar worker helped tend to Shilling's wound in a restroom, she said.

An ambulance then transported Shilling to St. Peter's Hospital. "They said it was broken and the tip of my finger was barely hanging on," she said.

Last Friday, Shilling underwent surgery as a doctor used two layers of stitches in an effort to repair the wound and re-attach her fingernail.

Four days after the incident, Shilling said she went to the Albany Police Department to follow up and was provided the name and telephone number for the officer assigned to her case. She said she left a message for the officer but has not heard back.

"No one has contacted me from the police department," said Chris Pratt, who owns Pearl Street Pub.

Pratt characterized the incident as an unprecedented episode of violence for his establishment. He said an employee recognized the man and could possibly identify him, although the employee does not know the man's name. Police have not interviewed any of the bar's employees about the incident since the night it took place, Pratt added.

"I would gladly work with the police department. ... (but) we don't know who the guy is," Pratt said. "We did everything in our power: We removed the guy, we treated her and we called EMS."

Pratt said the incident was "an absolutely isolated incident. I've never seen anything like that."

Shilling, a single mother with a 4-year-old daughter, said she has been unable to return to work at her job as a waitress. She said a doctor told her the biggest health concern is that she not develop any serious infections from the bite.